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Hooters slated to open Nov. 16

By {screen_name}
Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Beach-themed and buxom-staffed restaurant Hooters is scheduled to open Nov. 16 at its new Grand Junction location on North Avenue.

The franchise will begin taking job applications Monday. The store will hire at least 50 servers, plus hosts, kitchen staff and other positions, at least to start, said Melanie Gulmetti, marketing director for Hooters in Colorado.

“We take as many people (at opening) as possible because of high turnover,” she said.

A woman must be 18 to work as a waitress, or Hooters Girl, because she will be serving alcohol.

The 4,394-square-foot restaurant will have a rooftop patio, a full oyster bar and up to 18 big screen TVs that will show any NFL football or March Madness basketball game.

The menu will include seafood, burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, desserts and appetizers, including chicken wings, which they refer to as “nearly world famous.”

Hooters occupies one of six lots available in The Plaza on North Avenue development. Developer William Shuman said Denny’s and a Mexican food restaurant from Utah have shown interest in building on Plaza lots, and he’s confident the lots will fill after Hooters opens.

“Everybody’s been waiting for Hooters to go in,” he said.

Shuman said the 57,000 square feet of space in the Plaza and the store and restaurants that will eventually reside there “will be good for North Avenue.”

“It looks pretty nice,” he said.

On opening day, the first 100 customers will receive 50 free wings on the first Tuesday of each month for 12 months.